Aggaeus

Hosted by Haggai Klorman-Eraqi

It’s 3 a.m., an entrepreneur is staring at the ceiling, wondering if they’ve just made the best—or worst—decision of their life. Welcome to the Aggaeus Podcast, hosted by Haggai Klorman-Eraqi. Here we share the messy experiments, the surprising wins, and the failures that cut deep but leave lessons worth carrying. You’ll get strategies, models, and insights from people in the arena—building, stumbling, and pushing forward.

  1. 2D AGO

    Ra’anan Cohen: IPOs, Unicorns & Black Swans, oh my!

    Ra’anan Cohen has lived the full founder arc: he built one company to an IPO (MobileMax), built another into a unicorn (Bringg), then wrote a brutally honest memoir that became a bestselling business book in Israel—and is now being adapted into a TV series. In this episode, Ra’anan and Haggai go into the decisions that define a founder’s life: the moment Ra’anan turned down a $10M offer to take money off the table (and what it taught him about risk, ego, and timing), the “Black Swan” events you can’t predict (like the iPhone) that can erase entire business models overnight, and the messy reality of boards, investors, and secondaries—when to take chips off the table, and when to stay hungry. What you’ll learn: • How to think about “life-changing money” vs. “founder pride” • Why Black Swans hit founders harder than markets—and how to build resilience anyway • The real tradeoffs of secondaries, dilution, and investor dynamics • What Ra’anan wishes he knew from the beginning Check out the full episode notes, transcripts, and all links on Substack: 👉 https://aggaeus.com/ SPONSORS - EXCLUSIVE FOR AGGAEUS PODCAST LISTENERS: KARDZ.BIZ BUY 2, GET 3 ON KARDZ.BIZ — UP TO $479 VALUE. AGGAEUSB2G3PREMIUM - for PREMIUM cards AGGAEUSB2G3PRO+ - for PRO+ cards When face-to-face impressions matter, pull out Kardz.Biz, the “business card too good to give away”. Use this link: https://kardz.biz/?ref=yqrmczty BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE SAVE 10% ON BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE’S GLP-1 PROGRAMS WITH CODE AGGAEUS10 (LIMITED TIME). Better Weight For Life is a transformational weight loss program led by a U.S. board-certified physician—designed to keep it simple: personalized GLP-1 treatment, expert support, and discreet delivery. They offer options including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, plus compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide (eligibility depends on your medical evaluation). Claim the offer here: https://www.betterweightforlife.com/partners/aggaeus CONNECT WITH RA’ANAN COHEN LinkedIn Website CONNECT WITH HAGGAI LinkedIn FOLLOW AGGAEUS Instagram TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts INQUIRIES 💼 Sponsorships / Business: talktous@aggaeus.com 🎙 Podcast: DM via Instagram DISCLAIMER Some links may earn affiliate commissions. Offers, terms, and availability may change without notice. Aggaeus content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should conduct your own research and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions. We may feature companies, products, or entities in which Aggaeus, its affiliates, or the author have invested or may invest, or with which they have had, have, or may have a financial, professional, or other relationship. #Startups #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #Leadership #Unicorn

    1h 8m
  2. APR 30

    Neal Foard on Storytelling That Wins Trust

    Haggai is a paying customer of Neal Foard’s Storyfire—and this episode is the “how it actually works” playbook. After 30+ years in advertising and sales, Neal has a simple conviction: most people don’t lose deals because their product is weak—they lose because their story is forgettable. We talk about the real mechanics behind persuasion: why the best pitches feel like show business, how to turn your messaging into a “love letter” your customers actually want to read, and why “kindness” can be a ruthless competitive advantage when everyone else sounds the same. If you sell anything—an idea, a product, a vision—this conversation will sharpen your edge. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The “Broadway” approach to building a pitch: stakes → tension → payoff • The love-letter framework that turns features into felt value • How to make every meeting “the best part of their day” (and win repeat business) • Why most marketing fails: it’s too smart and not human enough • Where AI helps—and where humans still dominate: taste, empathy, trust Check out the full episode notes, transcripts, and all links on Substack: 👉 https://aggaeus.com/ SPONSORS - EXCLUSIVE FOR AGGAEUS PODCAST LISTENERS: KARDZ.BIZ BUY 2, GET 3 ON KARDZ.BIZ — UP TO $479 VALUE. AGGAEUSB2G3PREMIUM - for PREMIUM cards AGGAEUSB2G3PRO+ - for PRO+ cards When face-to-face impressions matter, pull out Kardz.Biz, the “business card too good to give away”. Use this link: https://kardz.biz/?ref=yqrmczty BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE SAVE 10% ON BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE’S GLP-1 PROGRAMS WITH CODE AGGAEUS10 (LIMITED TIME). Better Weight For Life is a transformational weight loss program led by a U.S. board-certified physician—designed to keep it simple: personalized GLP-1 treatment, expert support, and discreet delivery. They offer options including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, plus compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide (eligibility depends on your medical evaluation). Claim the offer here: https://www.betterweightforlife.com/partners/aggaeus CONNECT WITH NEAL FOARD LinkedIn Website CONNECT WITH HAGGAI LinkedIn FOLLOW AGGAEUS Instagram TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts INQUIRIES 💼 Sponsorships / Business: talktous@aggaeus.com 🎙 Podcast: DM via Instagram DISCLAIMER Some links may earn affiliate commissions. Offers, terms, and availability may change without notice. Aggaeus content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should conduct your own research and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions. We may feature companies, products, or entities in which Aggaeus, its affiliates, or the author have invested or may invest, or with which they have had, have, or may have a financial, professional, or other relationship.

    1h 29m
  3. APR 23

    Stop Living in Overdraft: RiseUp CEO Yuval Samet on Cash Flow & AI

    Yuval Samet helped scale Klarna from ~150 to ~2,000 people—then came back to Israel to tackle the most “quietly painful” problem in daily life: money stress. As CEO of RiseUp, he’s building financial wellbeing at scale by turning messy bank + card data into one clear picture of disposable income, plus step-by-step actions people actually follow. Yuval grew up with discussions about bank debt “as a guest at the dinner table”. That personal story became the company’s mission—and led to one of the most unconventional go-to-markets you’ll hear: sushi-and-wine house parties with customers about money, to learn how people really talk about finances, earn trust, and build a product that drives behavior change (not just dashboards). In this episode, we cover: • Why “compassionate capitalism” is more practical than it sounds • How RiseUp nudges people into real action: groceries, bills, bank fees, utilities, and more • What building on WhatsApp taught Yuval about platform risk (the hard way) • Where AI fits next: from recommendations → automated financial execution Check out the full episode notes, transcripts, and all links on Substack: 👉 https://aggaeus.com/ SPONSORS - EXCLUSIVE FOR AGGAEUS PODCAST LISTENERS: KARDZ.BIZ BUY 2, GET 3 ON KARDZ.BIZ — UP TO $479 VALUE. AGGAEUSB2G3PREMIUM - for PREMIUM cards AGGAEUSB2G3PRO+ - for PRO+ cards When face-to-face impressions matter, pull out Kardz.Biz, the “business card too good to give away”. Use this link: https://kardz.biz/?ref=yqrmczty BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE SAVE 10% ON BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE’S GLP-1 PROGRAMS WITH CODE AGGAEUS10 (LIMITED TIME). Better Weight For Life is a transformational weight loss program led by a U.S. board-certified physician—designed to keep it simple: personalized GLP-1 treatment, expert support, and discreet delivery. They offer options including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, plus compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide (eligibility depends on your medical evaluation). Claim the offer here: https://www.betterweightforlife.com/partners/aggaeus CONNECT WITH YUVAL SAMET LinkedIn Website CONNECT WITH HAGGAI LinkedIn FOLLOW AGGAEUS Instagram TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts INQUIRIES 💼 Sponsorships / Business: talktous@aggaeus.com 🎙 Podcast: DM via Instagram DISCLAIMER Some links may earn affiliate commissions. Offers, terms, and availability may change without notice. Aggaeus content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should conduct your own research and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions. We may feature companies, products, or entities in which Aggaeus, its affiliates, or the author have invested or may invest, or with which they have had, have, or may have a financial, professional, or other relationship. #Money #Fintech #Cashflow #AI #Wellbeing

    1h 9m
  4. APR 16

    Jason Wolf’s Wild Startup-to-VC Journey: From $400M SAP Exit to Iron Nation

    Jason Wolf joins Haggai Klorman Eraqi for a rare, behind-the-scenes conversation about building (and investing) when the world is literally shaking. Jason helped scale TopTier to a $400M cash acquisition by SAP, lived through the Better Place era, and today co-leads Iron Nation—a VC fund created three days after Oct 7 to keep Israeli startups alive when term sheets were getting pulled overnight. Iron Nation backed 24 startups in its first year—and already celebrated a first exit: illumex → NVIDIA. Jason breaks down what global investors often miss about Israeli resilience, how a wartime fund actually makes decisions, and what “good founders” look like when pressure isn’t theoretical. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Iron Nation was built in days—and how they selected investments from 1,000+ applicants • Why term sheets vanished after Oct 7 (and what the best founders did next) • The 4 traits Jason believes great founders must have (and how to spot them fast) • The operator-to-investor trap: “I can see the puzzle completed… but the pieces are missing” • AI’s real impact on jobs, budgets, and why the only move is to participate Check out the full episode notes, transcripts, and all links on Substack: 👉 https://aggaeus.com/ SPONSORS - EXCLUSIVE FOR AGGAEUS PODCAST LISTENERS: KARDZ.BIZ BUY 2, GET 3 ON KARDZ.BIZ — UP TO $479 VALUE. AGGAEUSB2G3PREMIUM - for PREMIUM cards AGGAEUSB2G3PRO+ - for PRO+ cards When face-to-face impressions matter, pull out Kardz.Biz, the “business card too good to give away”. Use this link: https://kardz.biz/?ref=yqrmczty BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE SAVE 10% ON BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE’S GLP-1 PROGRAMS WITH CODE AGGAEUS10 (LIMITED TIME). Better Weight For Life is a transformational weight loss program led by a U.S. board-certified physician—designed to keep it simple: personalized GLP-1 treatment, expert support, and discreet delivery. They offer options including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, plus compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide (eligibility depends on your medical evaluation). Claim the offer here: https://www.betterweightforlife.com/partners/aggaeus CONNECT WITH JASON WOLF LinkedIn Website CONNECT WITH HAGGAI LinkedIn FOLLOW AGGAEUS Instagram TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts INQUIRIES 💼 Sponsorships / Business: talktous@aggaeus.com 🎙 Podcast: DM via Instagram DISCLAIMER Some links may earn affiliate commissions. Offers, terms, and availability may change without notice. Aggaeus content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should conduct your own research and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions. We may feature companies, products, or entities in which Aggaeus, its affiliates, or the author have invested or may invest, or with which they have had, have, or may have a financial, professional, or other relationship. #Startups #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Leadership

    1h 9m
  5. APR 13

    Omer Menashe’s Entrepreneurial Stack: From Law to Startups, Agencies & an AI Venture Studio

    Omer Menashe has been building for nearly two decades—startups, a long-running agency, and now a venture studio designed for the AI era. In this episode, he unpacks the “lifelong entrepreneur” path: why he became a lawyer (and why he quit immediately), how early internet hacking/piracy shaped his builder DNA, and how he turned digital marketing into a repeatable growth engine—powering Clyr, 1Flo, and Lightway Digital. It’s a conversation about what actually breaks (and what survives) when you build in “digital-only” industries—plus why Omer believes AI is about to compress white-collar work faster than most founders are willing to admit. What you’ll learn in this episode: • How his first company scaled mobile dev + education when “mobile” was still rare in Israel • The agency reality: why “we said yes to everything” worked early—and why it was a long-term mistake • The most underrated growth channel: relationships, referrals, and “give before you ask” in practice • Why Omer thinks agencies are in a “golden age” right before AI eats the margins • His venture studio thesis: shifting from digital labor to physical services/products as an AI hedge Check out the full episode notes, transcripts, and all links on Substack: 👉 https://aggaeus.com/ SPONSORS - EXCLUSIVE FOR AGGAEUS PODCAST LISTENERS: KARDZ.BIZ BUY 2, GET 3 ON KARDZ.BIZ — UP TO $479 VALUE. AGGAEUSB2G3PREMIUM - for PREMIUM cards AGGAEUSB2G3PRO+ - for PRO+ cards When face-to-face impressions matter, pull out Kardz.Biz, the “business card too good to give away”. Use this link: https://kardz.biz/?ref=yqrmczty BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE SAVE 10% ON BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE’S GLP-1 PROGRAMS WITH CODE AGGAEUS10 (LIMITED TIME). Better Weight For Life is a transformational weight loss program led by a U.S. board-certified physician—designed to keep it simple: personalized GLP-1 treatment, expert support, and discreet delivery. They offer options including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, plus compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide (eligibility depends on your medical evaluation). Claim the offer here: https://www.betterweightforlife.com/partners/aggaeus CONNECT WITH OMER MENASHE LinkedIn 1Flo Clyr Lightway Digital CONNECT WITH HAGGAI LinkedIn FOLLOW AGGAEUS Instagram TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts INQUIRIES 💼 Sponsorships / Business: talktous@aggaeus.com 🎙 Podcast: DM via Instagram DISCLAIMER Some links may earn affiliate commissions. Offers, terms, and availability may change without notice. Aggaeus content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should conduct your own research and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions. We may feature companies, products, or entities in which Aggaeus, its affiliates, or the author have invested or may invest, or with which they have had, have, or may have a financial, professional, or other relationship.

    1h 1m
  6. APR 9

    Gon Ben David’s Roomer Pivot: From Hotel Cancellations to Creator-Led Travel

    Roomer didn’t just survive travel’s worst crash—it rebuilt itself inside the industry. In this episode, Gon Ben David (Co-Founder & CEO, Roomer) breaks down how Roomer went from a bold marketplace for reselling canceled hotel reservations, to partnering with giants like Kayak, to building “cancel-for-any-reason” infrastructure—then pivoting post-COVID into the creator economy, where travel decisions are increasingly driven by people, not platforms. We talk about the non-obvious distribution lessons most founders miss, how to build partnerships that become your growth engine, and why “taste + data” may be the next frontier in travel discovery. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Roomer cracked demand with partners instead of burning cash in travel ads • Why “inventory with an expiration date” changes everything about go-to-market • The real operational chaos of “cancel-for-any-reason” during COVID (and how they lived through it) • Why creators are becoming the new travel “experts”—and how Roomer helps them monetize • A founder’s take on curiosity, humility, and telling the truth when things aren’t working Check out the full episode notes, transcripts, and all links on Substack: 👉 https://aggaeus.com/ SPONSORS - EXCLUSIVE FOR AGGAEUS PODCAST LISTENERS: KARDZ.BIZ BUY 2, GET 3 ON KARDZ.BIZ — UP TO $479 VALUE. AGGAEUSB2G3PREMIUM - for PREMIUM cards AGGAEUSB2G3PRO+ - for PRO+ cards When face-to-face impressions matter, pull out Kardz.Biz, the “business card too good to give away”. Use this link: https://kardz.biz/?ref=yqrmczty BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE SAVE 10% ON BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE’S GLP-1 PROGRAMS WITH CODE AGGAEUS10 (LIMITED TIME). Better Weight For Life is a transformational weight loss program led by a U.S. board-certified physician—designed to keep it simple: personalized GLP-1 treatment, expert support, and discreet delivery. They offer options including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, plus compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide (eligibility depends on your medical evaluation). Claim the offer here: https://www.betterweightforlife.com/partners/aggaeus CONNECT WITH GON BEN DAVID LinkedIn Website CONNECT WITH HAGGAI LinkedIn FOLLOW AGGAEUS Instagram TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts INQUIRIES 💼 Sponsorships / Business: talktous@aggaeus.com 🎙 Podcast: DM via Instagram DISCLAIMER Some links may earn affiliate commissions. Offers, terms, and availability may change without notice. Aggaeus content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should conduct your own research and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions. We may feature companies, products, or entities in which Aggaeus, its affiliates, or the author have invested or may invest, or with which they have had, have, or may have a financial, professional, or other relationship. #Aggaeus #TravelTech #CreatorEconomy #Startups #GoToMarket

    1h 13m
  7. APR 1

    David Bartholomeusz on Launching a Startup Every 90 Days

    David Bartholomeusz is a serial entrepreneur who’s built (and let go of) dozens of businesses—not to chase exits, but to design a life with more freedom and more play. In a conversation that starts light and quickly goes deep, David and Haggai unpack what leadership really is when you strip away ego, hustle-culture scripts, and the “CEO identity.” You’ll hear how David runs rapid, low-cost startup experiments and how leaders evolve from managing followers to leading leaders. If you’re an operator, founder, exec—or just tired of performing success—this is your permission slip to rebuild from the inside out. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The hidden trap of “being the CEO” and why it can hollow you out • How David tests business ideas quickly (without overbuilding) • The difference between pain paralysis vs. “ready-to-move” pain • Why the real product is often peace of mind—not the deliverable • How to build teams that create autonomy (and stop needing you) Check out the full episode notes, transcripts, and all links on Substack: 👉https://aggaeus.com/ SPONSORS - EXCLUSIVE FOR AGGAEUS PODCAST LISTENERS: KARDZ.BIZ BUY 2, GET 3 ON KARDZ.BIZ — UP TO $479 VALUE. AGGAEUSB2G3PREMIUM - for PREMIUM cards AGGAEUSB2G3PRO+ - for PRO+ cards When face-to-face impressions matter, pull out Kardz.Biz, the “business card too good to give away”. Use this link: https://kardz.biz/?ref=yqrmczty BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE SAVE 10% ON BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE’S GLP-1 PROGRAMS WITH CODE AGGAEUS10 (LIMITED TIME). Better Weight For Life is a transformational weight loss program led by a U.S. board-certified physician—designed to keep it simple: personalized GLP-1 treatment, expert support, and discreet delivery. They offer options including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, plus compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide (eligibility depends on your medical evaluation). Claim the offer here: https://www.betterweightforlife.com/partners/aggaeus CONNECT WITH DAVID BARTHOLOMEUSZ LinkedIn LUCID DREAMING ONLINE COURSE Free Introduction to Lucid Dreaming CONNECT WITH HAGGAI LinkedIn FOLLOW AGGAEUS Instagram TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts INQUIRIES 💼 Sponsorships / Business: talktous@aggaeus.com 🎙 Podcast: DM via Instagram DISCLAIMER Some links may earn affiliate commissions. Offers, terms, and availability may change without notice. Aggaeus content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should conduct your own research and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions. We may feature companies, products, or entities in which Aggaeus, its affiliates, or the author have invested or may invest, or with which they have had, have, or may have a financial, professional, or other relationship. #LeadershipTransformation #EntrepreneurMindset #FounderJourney #HighPerformance #PersonalGrowth

    1h 26m
  8. MAR 26

    Rachel Ten Brink’s Wild Entrepreneurial Journey: From Selling Perfume Subscriptions to AI Investing

    Rachel ten Brink has lived the full loop: corporate operator → YC-backed founder → GP at Red Bike Capital. She co-founded Scentbird, helped pioneer early DTC growth (before “playbooks” existed), and now backs founders at pre-seed and seed as a VC. In this episode, Rachel shares thestory behind the wins: the awkward first meetings, the bad business models, the “almost gave up” moment, and the tactical moves that finally made Scentbird click—pricing discipline, retention-first subscription thinking, and early influencer marketing before it was crowded. Then we flip to the investor lens: what she actually looks for in founders, why traction beats storytelling (especially for first-timers), and how AI changes the game—without replacing the fundamentals. You’ll hear: • The early Scentbird pivots that failed—and the one that finally worked • Subscription survival: voluntary vs involuntary churn (and why card failures can kill you) • What YC was like when growth expectations were brutal and simple • The real advantage of “doing things that don’t scale” to land the first enterprise customers • Rachel’s founder filter: learning speed, commercial sense, and distribution Check out the full episode notes, transcripts, and all links on Substack: 👉https://aggaeus.com/ SPONSORS - EXCLUSIVE FOR AGGAEUS PODCAST LISTENERS: KARDZ.BIZ BUY 2, GET 3 ON KARDZ.BIZ — UP TO $479 VALUE. AGGAEUSB2G3PREMIUM - for PREMIUM cards AGGAEUSB2G3PRO+ - for PRO+ cards When face-to-face impressions matter, pull out Kardz.Biz, the “business card too good to give away”. Use this link: https://kardz.biz/?ref=yqrmczty BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE SAVE 10% ON BETTER WEIGHT FOR LIFE’S GLP-1 PROGRAMS WITH CODE AGGAEUS10 (LIMITED TIME). Better Weight For Life is a transformational weight loss program led by a U.S. board-certified physician—designed to keep it simple: personalized GLP-1 treatment, expert support, and discreet delivery. They offer options including Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, plus compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide (eligibility depends on your medical evaluation). Claim the offer here: https://www.betterweightforlife.com/partners/aggaeus CONNECT WITH RACHEL TEN BRINK LinkedIn Website CONNECT WITH HAGGAI LinkedIn FOLLOW AGGAEUS Instagram TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts INQUIRIES 💼 Sponsorships / Business: talktous@aggaeus.com 🎙 Podcast: DM via Instagram DISCLAIMER Some links may earn affiliate commissions. Offers, terms, and availability may change without notice. Aggaeus content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should conduct your own research and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions. We may feature companies, products, or entities in which Aggaeus, its affiliates, or the author have invested or may invest, or with which they have had, have, or may have a financial, professional, or other relationship.

    1h 17m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

It’s 3 a.m., an entrepreneur is staring at the ceiling, wondering if they’ve just made the best—or worst—decision of their life. Welcome to the Aggaeus Podcast, hosted by Haggai Klorman-Eraqi. Here we share the messy experiments, the surprising wins, and the failures that cut deep but leave lessons worth carrying. You’ll get strategies, models, and insights from people in the arena—building, stumbling, and pushing forward.